How Much Is Flood Insurance?
The national average rate for flood insurance is $949 per year through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
A standard home insurance policy won’t cover flood damage. The NFIP, which is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), partners with insurance companies to provide separate flood insurance policies.
How much does flood insurance cost by flood zone?
If you live in a high-risk flood zone, you may pay a higher flood insurance rate than someone in a lower-risk flood zone.
To find out what flood zone you live in, look at FEMA’s flood zone map. Flood zones with the letters B, C and X are moderate-to-low-risk flood areas. High-risk flood areas have the letters A or V on FEMA’s maps. Zone D is used for areas with possible but uncertain flood risk.
On average, homeowners in Zone V pay $2,324 a year for a policy through the NFIP, which is around $1,600 more than the rate for someone living in Zone X.
| Flood zone | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| A | $1,015 |
| A99 | $653 |
| AE | $1,048 |
| AH | $657 |
| AO | $733 |
| AR | $916 |
| D | $1,576 |
| V | $2,324 |
| VE | $898 |
| X | $674 |
How much is flood insurance in my state?
Your flood insurance rate can vary a lot based on your location. The national average rate for flood insurance through the NFIP is $949 a year. By state, average flood insurance rates range from $432 a year in Alaska to $1,553 a year in Vermont.
Besides the flood risk in an area, the design and age of a home and the location of a structure’s contents can affect what you pay for flood insurance.
Average flood insurance cost by state
| State | Annual rate |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $830 |
| Alaska | $432 |
| Arizona | $775 |
| Arkansas | $946 |
| California | $903 |
| Colorado | $858 |
| Connecticut | $1,385 |
| Delaware | $747 |
| District of Columbia | $494 |
| Florida | $829 |
| Georgia | $794 |
| Hawaii | $722 |
| Idaho | $886 |
| Illinois | $985 |
| Indiana | $942 |
| Iowa | $1,216 |
| Kansas | $961 |
| Kentucky | $1,278 |
| Louisiana | $893 |
| Maine | $1,225 |
| Maryland | $476 |
| Massachusetts | $1,127 |
| Michigan | $803 |
| Minnesota | $1,017 |
| Mississippi | $1,024 |
| Missouri | $1,301 |
| Montana | $877 |
| Nebraska | $910 |
| Nevada | $824 |
| New Hampshire | $1,078 |
| New Jersey | $985 |
| New Mexico | $1,058 |
| New York | $1,106 |
| North Carolina | $802 |
| North Dakota | $794 |
| Ohio | $1,020 |
| Oklahoma | $984 |
| Oregon | $861 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,346 |
| Rhode Island | $1,034 |
| South Carolina | $689 |
| South Dakota | $1,090 |
| Tennessee | $1,081 |
| Texas | $859 |
| Utah | $625 |
| Vermont | $1,553 |
| Virginia | $711 |
| Washington | $930 |
| West Virginia | $1,516 |
| Wisconsin | $887 |
| Wyoming | $922 |
How much is private flood insurance?
Homeowners can also purchase private flood insurance. Private flood insurance policy rates vary and can differ from NFIP policy rates.
Private flood insurance companies can offer more coverage than the NFIP, too. However, you might pay a higher rate for it as a result.
When determining your rate, private flood insurance companies also consider the flood risk of your home. The average cost for private flood insurance nationally is $98 a month.
| Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| MAPFRE | $38 |
| Zurich | $46 |
| Palomar | $61 |
| Munich Re | $77 |
| MS&AD Insurance | $95 |
| AXA SA | $104 |
| Allstate | $116 |
| AIG | $126 |
| Geico | $187 |
| Chubb | $206 |
The rates above are average rates. Your flood insurance premium will vary based on the value of your home and the likelihood of floods in your area.
Factors that impact flood insurance rates
Flood insurance rates are based on a number of factors. These include:
- The flood risk of the area you live in
- The amount and type of coverage you get
- The exact location of your home
- The construction and design of your home
You can make updates to your home to lower your flood insurance rate, such as adding flood openings in your basement.
Risk Rating 2.0
FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 is a new approach to pricing flood insurance policies that better reflects the flood risk of your home. When determining your rate, FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 includes these additional risk variables:
- Flood frequency
- Distance to a water source
- Elevation of your home
- The cost to rebuild your home
How to save on flood insurance
Picking a high deductible and upgrading your home can reduce your flood insurance rate. But before you buy a flood insurance policy, we recommend reviewing your home’s flood mitigation strategy.
These actions can lead to a lower flood insurance rate:
- Choose a higher deductible: Raising your deductible will lower your flood insurance rate. However, you’ll pay a higher amount if you need to file a claim.
- Elevate your home’s major systems: Raising appliances like your hot water heater, electrical panels, furnace and air conditioner units may lead to savings.
- Install flood openings: Installing two flood openings on the walls of your basement can lead to less damage and a lower flood insurance rate.
- Raise your home: Elevating your home can lead to less damage if there’s a flood in your area. It can also save you money on your flood insurance policy.
- Provide an elevation certificate: An elevation certificate provides information about your home’s elevation and location, which can help the NFIP give you a more accurate flood insurance rate.
What does flood insurance cover?
NFIP flood insurance policies offer building coverage and contents coverage. You can get up to $250,000 of building coverage and $100,000 of contents coverage.
Building coverage protects your home, which includes:
- Foundation walls
- Furnaces
- Water heaters
- Detached garages
- Electrical and plumbing systems
Contents coverage covers your personal belongings such as furniture, electronic equipment, original artwork, furs and more.
Do I need flood insurance?
If you have a government-backed mortgage and live in a high-risk flood zone like Zone V, you may be required to buy flood insurance.
If you aren’t required to have flood insurance, you should still consider getting it. According to the Illinois Department of Insurance, the average flood insurance claim payment can exceed $100,000, depending on the flood.
Methodology
Flood insurance rates were calculated using data from the NFIP as of Oct. 31, 2024.
Private flood insurance rates are based on nationwide data from S&P Global for 2023. The premiums listed are an average of what policyholders currently pay and are not standardized based on property values.